Govt shame continues on animal welfare

Nov. 7, 2012, 12:01 p.m.

Last night I watched ABC's Four Corners' "Another Bloody Business". Another bloody disgrace is what I would have called it.

Last night I watched ABC's Four Corners' "Another Bloody Business". Another
bloody disgrace is what I would have called it. I add my voice to many others
who are feeling a lot of anger and distress at the shameful revelations in the
program - thank goodness for the ABC - and shame on a government that continues
to support such a disgraceful set of circumstances. Minister Ludwig, your
repeated assurances that animal welfare standards for live shipments are being
addressed by last year's introduction of the ESCAS scheme, (Exporter Supply
Chain Assurance Scheme) beggars belief.

As the minister would be aware, once
animals are unloaded in a foreign country the Australian government has no
jurisdiction whatsoever to intervene on their behalf should welfare standards be
compromised. This makes a mockery of ESCAS' guarantee of humane standards.

Any confidence in ESCAS as a workable resolution to 26 years of unregulated
inhumanity to Australia's live animal exports is an insult to a public now aware
of atrocities associated with this industry. First it was cattle in Indonesian
slaughterhouses, then the barbaric treatment and sacrificial slaughter of sheep
in the Middle East, and now 20,000 sheep clubbed to death and buried alive in
Pakistan.

No one should accept any excuses to delay the inevitable ban on
this shameful trade. Send the animals chilled in cartons and create jobs in
Australia as NZ has been doing successfully for over 40 years. I will not vote for a
government that supports live exports. I look forward to real changes by a
government that listens to voters and is composed of persons of integrity and
compassion.